Sociology and Economics

How can we promote social justice in business, politics and the public sector? On this degree you’ll explore key sociological themes underpinned by applied economic theory, perspectives and approaches to prepare you for a range of graduate careers. 

Sociology is concerned with how people interact in a diverse range of settings and how the dynamics of these settings are affected by several interacting factors – you’ll explore these dynamics to help develop the skills, insights and ambition to not just understand the complexity of modern societies but to intervene in them and make a positive difference in the lives of others. 

Through our Economics modules you’ll develop skills in applying economic theory, perspectives and approaches as a method of solving business and organisational problems. You’ll develop knowledge and capabilities in applied economic analysis and learn to use the software used by leading professionals in the financial sector.  

Skills for your future

We’ll provide you with the knowledge and skills required to undertake the type of applied micro and macro-economic analysis needed from business, public and voluntary sector economists. You will develop both quantitative and qualitative analytical skills essential for entry into graduate management and financial training positions, as well as being prepared for progression to postgraduate Economics degrees for a career as an economist. 

Sociology is based on the study of people in society, therefore the skills and knowledge you develop within the programme are relevant to a wide variety of careers. It involves study of the behaviour of people in groups and of the relationship between these groups. This balance of studying major issues of concern for society and linking this to academic concepts and theories develops important skills personally and socially, giving you critical analysis skills that can be useful to a range of different industries. 

Put theory into practice 

You’ll benefit from varied teaching approaches, including guest speakers from a range of industry backgrounds, real-world learning opportunities such as live briefs, and projects set by industry, so you’ll graduate with a wealth of experience. 

You can choose to take a placement year between years two and three of your degree to put your skills into practice and gain valuable work experience before you graduate.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

What is a Joint Honours degree?

A Joint Honours degree offers students the opportunity to study two subjects.

A Joint Honours degree is a great option if:

• You want to study two subjects you’re passionate about
• You’ve got a specific career in mind and want to create a tailored degree to prepare you for the future
• You want to study a new subject alongside one you’re already familiar with

The modules below indicate the range of modules you may study as part of this combination, however prescribed and optional modules will vary depending on whether you choose to study both subjects equally, or choose to major or minor in a subject. To find out exactly which modules you would study as part of your chosen combination please contact jhs@derby.ac.uk.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

On your Sociology modules you’ll learn through a range of methods including: 

• lectures 
• seminars 
• multimedia presentations 
• online collaboration 
• guest lectures 
• class debates. 

Real-world learning is at the heart of our Economics modules, with a focus on solving genuine business problems as well as engaging with external experts to discuss economic concepts. You’ll learn through a compelling combination of: 

• interactive lectures
• expert speakers
• problem-solving seminars
• group work
• group discussion
• workshops
• case study analysis
• computer lab work
• practical analysis.

How you are assessed

On your Sociology modules you will be assessed through a broad range of methods which allows you to demonstrate your individual strengths and abilities. These include: 

• essays 
• case studies 
• project work 
• group work presentations 
• online discussions. 

On your Economics modules you will be assessed in a number of ways, including: 

• computer-based assessments 
• business reports
• applied economics projects to showcase your analytical and quantitative skills
• data retrieval and quantitative analytics using Bloomberg
• computer-based analysis harnessing Excel and SPSS
• poster presentations and reports to assess your research and consultancy skills. 

Sociology delivers a broad range of transferable skills and can lead to a wide range of graduate careers where research abilities, critical thinking and analytical skills are valued. Our graduates have used their degree to become teachers, lecturers, social workers, probation officers, civil servants, social researchers, business owners, marketers, counsellors, charity workers, and community officers – to name but a few roles. They have also found work in retail management, public relations, banking, welfare advice, accountancy and systems analysis. 

Economics graduates with an understanding of business and leadership are in great demand across the public, private and voluntary sectors worldwide. As well as roles in international business, consultancy and finance, you could pursue opportunities in government departments, development agencies, charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional information about your studies

You will typically study your two subjects equally at stage one, before choosing whether you want to major in one subject at stages two and three.

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.